Cocklebur plant is an annual herb, 20 to 90cm high, and found mostly in flatlands, hills, the wilds, road side, and grassland, etc. Root is fusoid, branched or unbranched. Stems are erect, with few or no branches. Leaves are alternate, 3 to 11cm long, and with long petiole. The whole plant is poisonous, especially the fruit. However, it is the fruit that is the most used medicinal part.

Also known as the seed of Xanthium strumarium L. or Xanthium Sibiricum, it is wrapped in the involucre, in the shape of spindle or oval, 1 to 1.5cm long, and 0.4 to 0.7cm in diameter. The spiny surface is yellowish brown or yellowish green, with two thicker separated or united thorns at front end, and with pedicel scars at the base. The texture is hard and tough. It has light odor and slightly bitter taste. Medicinally the preferred one is bigger size, plumpness, and yellowish brown in color.

Cocklebur

WHAT'S COCKLEBUR FRUIT USED FOR? 
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is bitter, sweet, warm, and slightly poisonous in nature. And it covers meridians of lung and liver.

The functions of cocklebur fruit are to dispel pathogenic wind and cold, relieve stuffy nose, expel wind and damp, and relieve itching skin. Main uses and indications of cockle bur fruits are nasal running, headache caused by wind-cold, bi syndrome due to wind-damp, nettle rash, Eczema, and acariasis. And cockleburr plant is mainly used for uterine bleeding, deep abscesses, leprosy, skin tinea and eczema, acute or Chronic Gastroenteritis, and bacillary dysentery. Usual dosage of fruits is 3 to 10 grams in tang (decoction), wan (teapills), or san (powder). The dosage of plant is 30 to 60 grams.

RELATED HERBAL FORMULAS
(1). Recorded in Assembly of Materia Medica (ben cao hui yan), it combines with Tian Ma (Gastrodia Root) and Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum Flower) for the treatment of vertigo due to wind pathogen or sharp stabbing pains to the head and brain;

(2). Included in Profound Essence of the Heaven (Dong Tian Ao Zhi), it works with Cang Zhu (Atractylodes) for the cure of leprosy;

(3). Integrated in Cang Er San, from Formulas to Aid the Living (Ji Sheng Fang), it joins Xin Yi Hua (Magnolia Flower), Bai Zhi (Angelica Root), and Bo He (Field Mint) in remedies for nose clogged with thick, non-stop mucus.